Noted Urdu writer and journalist, Hasan Kamal, in his column ‘Kehta Hoon Such’ (Rashtriya Sahara, June 28) writes that the Left’s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal is “quite correct.” “No one can deny the fact that the Left Front is not an irresponsible or opportunist opposition. And, we are firmly of the view that even now it is not interested in bringing the government down, and it is, only in principle, and justifiably, against the deal presented by the universally infamous Bush administration,” Hasan writes. He adds, “If the Manmohan government thinks, that the Left’s stand on the deal has made it unpopular among the people — because of being misguided by the media — it is living in a fool’s paradise.”

In a hard-hitting editorial, Hyderabad-based daily Rahnuma-e-Deccan (June 17) writes, “Manmohan Singh, whose economic policy is meant to protect the interests of World Bank and western countries, particularly the United States, wants to take steps like a defence agreement with the US for the nuclear energy deal. But he does not know that by doing this he is playing with fire that will burn his hands and his government would receive an exemplary treatment in the elections because people, whose faith in the government has been shaken due to price rise, would never tolerate being natural allies of America.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s organ, biweekly Daawat (July 1) has condemned the efforts to “give a communal colour to the opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal.” The paper writes, “The nuclear energy deal is concerned with the country’s policies on defence, energy or foreign affairs, and giving a communal colour to it is clearly unwise and cheap politics... It is obvious that the angry and serious reaction of Muslims to a statement (by the CPM leader M.K. Pandhe) that was unnecessary, is natural.” Other papers have also reacted sharply to the communal angle being given to the deal. Delhi-based Hindustan Express (July 2) in a front-page report, with a blaring headline on UP Chief Minister Mayawati’s statement terming the deal “anti-Muslim,” has described it as a “political fatwa” and “new trading in sentiments” (jazbaat ki nayee saudagari).

... contd.